SMD Sells Its First Electric Atom ROV
Subsea technology company Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) has closed the first sale of its compact workclass electric ROV, the Atom EV, to Greece’s Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), a public center undertaking marine research in the Eastern Mediterranean.With a 4,000 m rated turnkey system, Atom e-ROV is an ultra-compact work class ROV comparable in size to a large electric ROV.The vehicle is suitable for renewable applications, drill support, survey and light construction duties and can be mobilized on vessels and rigs with limited deck space.The Atom e-ROV will be delivered to HCMR in
Global Underwater Hub Hosts Royal Visit from King Charles
, staff and representatives from member companies, and local school pupils.During the visit, King Charles took the opportunity to inspect the latest technology “all-electric” work-class submersible Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), built and developed in Newcastle by GUH member company Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD). He then viewed a live offshore operation in the Netherlands on a control station being carried out by one of Fugro’s Autonomous Surface Vessels which launched an underwater robot used for the inspection of subsea cables and pipelines.King Charles then toured exhibits from a range
Indonesia's Basarnas Buys SMD Atom ROV
To enable deeper dives on underwater missions, Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, Basarnas, has recently purchased a Hydraulic Atom ROV from UK company Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD).In a governmental first, the ROV has been acquired to support the organisation’s rescue teams reach deeper waters. Where divers were previously limited to 100 metres maximum, SMD’s equipment will be used to facilitate rescue missions at 1,000 metre depths. Following a trial of the Atom ROV, the aim is that more vehicles will be purchased to help improve water safety in Indonesia.The deal was
UK Subsea Robotics Firm SMD Sets Sights on Exceeding £100m Turnover in Five Years
UK-based subsea robotics and engineering firm Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) has this week announced plans to exceed £100m turnover within five years.To reach this goal, the company says it is focusing on the electrification of its vehicles, has ambitious recruitment targets, and plans to expand its innovation and services arms with two new facilities on the horizon that will be based in the North East of England.Mike Jones, chairman at SMD, said: “We have been around for over 50 years now and have weathered many storms including the dot com crash and more recently, the pandemic. What has
MacArtney to Supply All-electric LARS for SMD ROV
The MacArtney Group announced it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD) to supply the world’s first all-electric launch and recovery system (LARS) for a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV).The MacArtney eLARS will be supplied to integrate SMD’s next-generation EV work class ROV (WROV) technology, specifically for the Atom-EV.MacArtney noted its eLARS offers several environmental benefits, including reduced risk of oil spillage with zero pressurized oil over water. The system provides approximately 30% better energy efficiency than traditional
Rovco Invests in SMD's EV Work Class ROV
Subsea equipment maker Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd (SMD) and offshore services provider Rovco have signed a Letter of Intent for next-generation EV Work Class ROV (WROV) technology.Under the deal, announced Wednesday, SMD will provide Rovco with a new Atom EV high-performance electric WROV, which will be the first of a fleet of vehicles designed to interface with Rovco’s latest computer vision and AI capabilities, "offering a smarter way of working to drive efficiency and lower project costs."This solution enables Rovco to offer a step-change in autonomous services to its clients,
Global Underwater Hub Appoints Its First Chair
Global Underwater Hub, a newly formed UK-based subsea industry organization, has appointed Andrew Hodgson, a former CEO of Tyneside-based subsea engineering firm Soil Machine Dynamics, as its first chair. Hodgson will take up the role as the well-known subsea industry body Subsea UK transitions into GUH, a new strategically-focused organization that promises to transform the UK’s £8bn underwater industry "into one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the country, generating £45bn in revenues by 2035."This will accelerate the drive to net-zero and create
SMD to Build SEAJET's Controlled Flow Excavation Equipment
Dubai-based SEAJET Systems, a company building controlled flow excavation (CFE) solutions, has signed a manufacturing partnership with Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD), one of the world’s largest independent designers and manufacturers of specialist subsea intervention equipment.According to the two firms, SMD will build, test, and commission "the most advanced fleet of CFE equipment available in the market" in its production facility in Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne. The agreement follows SJS’s launch in May 2021, where the company offered the offshore energy industry the
Subsea Mining: All Eyes on Marine Minerals Offshore Norway
to support mineral mining. In what’s been billed as a world first, Belgium-based DEME Group’s Patania 2 nodule collector has been undergoing trials in 4,500 m water depth in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean (where it had a minor disconnection mishap in April). Soil Machine Dynamics in Newcastle, UK, recently unveiled a new nodule collection solution, the QC2000 Nodule Collector. As well as acquiring a drillship for conversion to a nodule collection vessel (to be named Hidden Gem), Allseas is also working on a deep-sea mining harvester and riser system to gather mineral-rich
February 2025
